"Where we're at in our program with this new coaching staff, it's not
something you really want to do, but it's something I'm in agreement
with because you have to," said Speir, WCU's first-year coach who was previously an assistant at Appalachian State.

"Bottom line is this whole world runs on that
almighty dollar."

Speir said these games also come in handy when he's trying to sell Western Carolina to a prospective player.

"It's good for recruiting to say you're going to play the University of
Alabama," Speir said. "A lot of young players like the thought of going and doing
that."

Alabama and Western Carolina will face each other again in 2014. It will receive $480,000 for that trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Speir, whose Catamounts are 1-9 and will end their 2012 season with Saturday's game, called Alabama coach Nick Saban "one of the best in the business all-time." He said it probably matters little that Alabama lost last week's game against Texas A&M.

"It doesn't matter if they've won or not won,
he's the kind of guy that it doesn't matter if he's playing the Green Bay
Packers or Western Carolina University or Smokey Mountain Middle School," Speir said.
"He's going to prepare that team the very best he can and that's why the
program is where it is.

"I think this might have brought some more focus
and reality maybe to their players, which is going to make it a little
harder on us."